Brake



Dee. 27, 193s. C. c. PIEPER 2,141,723

BRAKE Fild Nov. l, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 27,1938.` c. c. PIEPER I2,141,723

BRAKE Filed Nov; 1, 1957 2 sheets-shea 2 Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITEDSTATES PATENT `l FME 1 Claim.

This invention relates to game apparatus.

It is an object of this invention to provide a game apparatus which isrelatively simple and inexpensive in construction and eiiicient in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel gameapparatus which is especially adapted for use as a baseball gameapparatus but which may also be employed to play various other games.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide in a gameapparatus, a novel device for indicating the score or play made by theplayer or players, that is, to show the score made by the player aftereach operation thereof.

An additional object of the invention is to provide in the new gameapparatus a novel device for braking, that is, stopping the operation ofthe spinning disc or rotatable member which is embodied in the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in combination with thebraking mechanism, a novel device for indicating the score or play madeby the player at each operation of the disc.

An additional object of the invention is to construct the indicatingdevice and the braking mechanism, relative to each other, so that whenthe braking mechanism is operated to stop the rotation of the disc theindicator will move in a manner simulating the action of a baseballplayer batting.

Another object of the invention is to construct the new game apparatusin such a manner that the aforesaid indicator normally points to a sightopening which is formed in the top wall of the cabinet so as to revealthe score or play made by the player at each operation of the disc, asshown by the marking on the disc which is visible in the sight openingwhen the disc comes to rest, and so that when the braking mechanism isoperated the indicator will move relative to the sight opening in amanner simulating the action of a baseball player batting.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of partsto be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred form of the new game apparatuswith a part of the top wall of the cabinet broken away to show the discarranged therein;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail View of a part of the disc-brakingdevice;

(Cl. 18S-74) Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View on line 3 3in Fig. `l, illustrating the rotatable member or spinning disc, thebraking mechanism therefor, and the score or play indicating device;

Fig. 4 is a top plan View oi a modified form of 5 the-invention; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional detail View on line 5 5 inFig. 4.

A preferred form of the new game apparatus is illustrated in Figs. 1 to3, inclusive, is therein gen- 10 erally indicated at I il, and comprisesa cabinet or casing I i which includes a substantially horizontal topwall I2 on which the representations of a baseball player or the like I3may be inscribed in any suitable manner, if desired. Rotatably 15mounted in the cabinet I I, below the top wall I2, as at I4, is a, discI5 on the upper surface of which the various plays and scores possibleof a baseball, or other game, are inscribed in radially arrangedsections or areas I6. Attached to the disc I5, 20 centrally thereof, andprojecting upwardly above the top wall I2 is a finger grip or knob I'Iby means of which the disc I5 may be rotated.

Pivotally mounted between its ends, as at I3, in the cabinet II, belowthe top wall I2, and ad- 25 jacent one corner of the cabinet is abrake-operating member or lever i9, which includes a handle portion 20,and this handle portion 20 projects exteriorly of the cabinet ll throughan opening 2| which is formed in the side wall 22 of the same. 30

Mounted on an arm 23 of the brake-operating member I9 is a brake memberor friction element 2i which may be made of rubber, leather or likefriction material, and this friction-element is engageable with theperipheral edge 25 of the disc 35 I5, the friction element 24 beingnormally urged out of engagement with the disc 25 by a resetting spring26 which is attached to the brake-operating lever I 9.

Mounted on the lateral extension 23 of the 40 brake-operating lever I9is a pin 28, the upper end portion of which projects above the playingboard or top wall I2 (Fig. 3) ofthe cabinet IB. Mounted on this pin 28,above the playing board l2, is an indicator 29 which is shown as havingthe form 45 oi the upper portion of a baseball player holding a bat 30(Fig. 1).

Provided in the playing board I2, for a purpose tobe explainedpresently, is a radial slot or sight opening 3|. 50

In the use of the preferred form of the new game apparatus, which isshown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the game represented by the same maybe played by one player alone, or by two or more players competitively,and this is accomplished 55 spring 26, thereby moving the frictionelementV 24 into engagement with the peripheral edge 25 of the disc andthus stopping the latter, it being noted in this connection, that whenthe disc I5 cornes to rest one of the radial sections I6 on which ascore or play is printed will be in alignment or registration with thesight opening 3| in the playing board I2 so as to indicate the play orscore the player has made by spinning the disc I5.

During the operation of the braking mechanism I9-2ll-23-24 the upwardlyextending pin 28 carried thereby is pivoted (clockwise, Fig. V1) therebymoving the indicator 29 in a manner to simulate the action of a baseballplayer swinging at a ball, and when the brake mechanism is released andis returned to its initial position, by the resetting spring 26, theportion 3l] of the indicator 29, which represents a` baseball playersbat, will point to the slot or sight opening 3l in the playing board YI2so as to indicate the particular score or play which the player has madeby spinning the disc I5. However, if the disc I5 stops in a positionwherein one of the radial sections I6 is not in full view in the sightopening 3I this may be counted. as no play and the disc rotated again.

A modified form of the new game apparatus is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, istherein generally indicated at 32, and comprises a cabinet 33 whichincludes a substantially horizontal top wall or playing board 34 on theupper surface of which is a radially arranged row of sections 35 inwhich various baseball plays and scores may be inscribed.

In this form of the invention a disc 36 is rotatably mounted as at 3T,centrally of the playing board 34, and this disc 36 is provided, abovethe playing board 34, with a finger grip or knob 38. The disc 36 islikewise provided with an indicator or pointer portion 39.

In the use of the modified form of the new game apparatus which is shownin Figs. 4 and 5 the disc 36 is rotated by grasping the hand knob 38,kand when the disc comes to rest the pointer or indicator 39 thereonwill point to one of the radial sections 35 on the playing board andthus indicate the particular score or play the player has made byrotating the disc 36. Y While I have illustrated and described Vthepreferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect,this is capable of variation and modification, without departing fromthe Spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited tothe precise details of construction set forth, but .desire to availmyself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope ofthe appended claim.

I claim:

In a game apparatus of the type which includes a casing having a topwall `and a disc rotatably mounted in the said Vcasing below the saidtop wall and having indicia thereon representing various scores andplays in a game and in which the disc has a finger grip portionprojecting above the top wall thereof for spinning the same: a devicefor braking'the said disc to stop rotation thereof, said braking deviceincluding a brake-operating member pivotally mounted in the said casingbelow the said top. wall thereof and having a handle portion projectingexteriorly of the said casing, and a friction element mounted on andcarried by the said brake-operating member` on the upper surface of thelatter and between the ends thereof and frictionally engagea-ble, belowthe top wall of said casing, with the peripheral edge of said disc, saidbrakeeperating member including a portion normally projecting below thebottom surface of said disc and said friction element being adapted tobe moved into frictional or braking engagement with the said disc bymanual operation of the said brake-operating member' and its said handleportion, and a spring arranged in the said casing below the top wallthereof and having one end portion anchored in the said casing andhaving its other end attached to the said handle portion of saidbrake-operating member and normally urging the latter in a .direction tomove the said'friction element carried thereby out of engagement withthe peripheral edge of said disc.

CONRAD C. PIEPER.

